Join the NADO Research Foundation and the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) (https://www NULL.iu NULL.edu/~ibrciuws/index NULL.html) on April 4 from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. ET for a free webinar (https://docs NULL.google NULL.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqubsU9bAK_Ncbedsznz4M13qQIvn4Jl4ChhP_6R83YJQ3Nw/viewform) that will take a closer look at the Innovation Index 2.0 (http://www NULL.statsamerica NULL.org/ii2/), a new web index from StatsAmerica (http://www NULL.statsamerica NULL.org/Default NULL.aspx) funded with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (https://www NULL.eda NULL.gov/). The Innovation Index 2.0 is a free web resource that can give economic development practitioners and regional leaders the ability to assess their region’s economic strengths and challenges and provide valuable data that can utilized when writing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or other regional economic development plan. The Innovation Index 2.0 expands on a previous index by adding more than 50 new measures. Data are shown at the county level and can be aggregated to a regional level based on the user’s needs. Data and analysis can inform stakeholders’ collective action toward a common vision and can guide complex decision-making at the regional level by identifying a region’s capabilities, shortfalls, and potential. Questions? E-mail Brett Schwartz at [email protected] (bschwartz null@null nado NULL.org).

Access vs. Isolation: Preserving Rail Connectivity

On April 21, 1 – 2:00 p.m. ET, the NADO Research Foundation will host the free webinar Access vs. Isolation: Preserving Rail Connectivity (http://ruraltransportation NULL.org/upcoming-nado-research-foundation-webinar-access-vs-isolation-preserving-rail-connectivity/), to share information on a topic of national importance to regional planning and development organizations and local communities.

As regional economies change over time, the demand for transportation facilities and services also evolves. As a result of a decline in coal demand and output, private sector freight transportation has decreased. Rail lines and service are a valuable transportation network asset and a concern for maintaining and growing future economic activity that might rely on access to active rail lines. The webinar speakers will use transportation impacts of the decline of coal production in Appalachia as an example to frame the issue of rail preservation for attendees from across in the nation, as well as within the Appalachian region. NADO will apply to offer 1 AICP CM credit for attending the webinar. Questions? Contact Carrie Kissel at [email protected] (ckissel null@null nado NULL.org).